28 March 2013

Li Jinyu is the author of several puzzles that I have taken the liberty to name"Walking". The levels are 10315 to 10325. What do they have in common these 10 puzzles? Actually, they are not of Li Jinyu, but each puzzle is an aggregate of several puzzles of other authors, in a sort of "sokocollage". However, both the selection of puzzles, such as binding to one another, is very well done, so that each "sokocollage" is like an intricate "route", and to solve the puzzles is a fun and interesting *walk*.

This series of puzzles of Jinyu was subsequently included -without author's name- in the file "No Author Levels", in the popular program SuperSoko (2003).In "No Author Levels" these puzzles are levels #90 and #179 to 187. (Note: In fact, except 24, the 244 puzzles of "No Author Levels" come from well-known authors and collections...).

With a little patience, I have managed to identify the puzzles that make up the "routes" 10315 to 10325. You can download the set here:

This 10318 is perhaps the most fun "route". "zhenying" and York Shen made several remodels, which included in the downloadable set. I've added a wall in the remodel of York Shen, only by doing something, because I have not had time to study the puzzle with more attention. This is my version, only slightly more difficult than that of York Shen:

13 March 2013

In the file "gyjgw - small and medium remodels" I've collected a selection of remodels of "gyjgw", of medium and small size. Everything that "gyjgw" does, has always a lot of sense. In their remodels, he's not limited to add boxes or walls to increase the difficulty, but often brings a new concept of the puzzle. In addition, "gyjgw" has a great technical masters in all typologies of puzzles (knots of boxes, chessboards, storage, "logic"...), as you can appreciate in this selection.

All remodels are *difficult*, and are only recommended for experiencedplayers.

Finally, to appreciate the work of "gyjgw", I recommend comparing theremodel with the original.

I have not solved all the puzzles, because of the lack of time. Then I indicate the best results (moves/pushes) of the puzzles I've solved so far. Of course, feel free to send me your solutions, to complete this ranking (you can paste your solutions below, or send them to me by email):

02 March 2013

The puzzles of four boxes have a peculiarity: are the frontier between the easy and the difficult. Indeed, the puzzles of 3 boxes are easy (with rare exceptions); in contrast, with 5 boxes is already possible to build very difficult puzzles; 4 boxes is the border between the two.

Aymeric du Peloux is a specialist in this kind of puzzles. I recommend visiting their collections, and also those of Dries De Clercq and Shaggath.

Structure divided in columns (or rows) with a invariable width of 2 floors. This structure requires complicated maneuvers to move boxes from one room to another. See a similar theme in Yoshio Sakae, Sokoban Revenge #208 (1991, with 6 boxes). After treaty also by David W. Skinner, Sasquatch IV #9 (2001) and Microban III #8 (2009). See also the spectacular macro-enlargements: Yoshio Sakae, Sokoban Revenge #306 (1991, best moves/pushes: 11011/5929):

Perhaps it would be interesting to dedicate a post to this typology of puzzles. Obviously, the first puzzle in this style was Sokoban 2 (1984) #13, of Thinking Rabbit (= Sokoban Perfect #154; modified versions: Original #23, and Sokoban Revenge #72).

Beautiful puzzle with three rooms and alternate goals. Very elegant. This puzzle was used on the Sokoban Robot Competition (Syddansk Universitet Odense, Denmark, 2011). Watch a video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXSR7X0E-zg

"696" is a remarkable collection of excellent compact and quasi-compact puzzles of 3, 4, 5 and up to 6 boxes. I've selected only three, but it would have been able to select other 20, and all equally good. In this particular puzzle, the last rotation of boxes before the end, is spectacular.